To Our NPEP Community

The NPEP community grieves the profound loss of our beloved friend, classmate, and student, Katrina Giles. In the short time that Katrina was in NPEP, she filled the lives of everyone she touched with joy, hope, and care, and the light that burned so brightly in her will continue to illuminate all that we do moving forward.

In the months since Katrina’s death, I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of memories shared about her from countless members of the NPEP community: about her unrivaled generosity, her unwavering friendship, her ability to really see and listen to others, her courage in the face of obstacles, her superhero levels of strength, and her irrepressible joy. More than one professor commented on her “insightfulness” and “radiance,” and numerous classmates described her as “an angel” and the most “beautiful soul” on Earth.

Katrina inspired those around her to reflect the same love and kindness she brought to everything she touched. When she was first diagnosed with her illness, the NPEP community wrote so many letters on her behalf that her legal team was moved to tears, saying that they doubt anyone has ever received more support for a petition for release. Our collective efforts, combined with those of so many others, helped Katrina spend her last days at home surrounded by family members and friends. When her NPEP classmates at Sheridan heard about her death, they took the initiative to collectively create artwork, poetry, and words of encouragement to share with their Logan sisters. When her NPEP family at Logan organized a memorial, they shared music, and dance, and poetry, and stories — all of which made clear how deeply they knew and loved Katrina, and how much she impacted who they are today.

As you read the words in the coming pages, I invite you to honor and celebrate Katrina’s life by reimagining what is possible when we lead with love and by relentlessly striving for a world that is more just and more compassionate.

With warmest wishes,

Jennifer Lackey

Director, Northwestern Prison Education Program